Progesterone is a really important hormone that works throughout our bodies. In this Instagram Live, Dr Louise takes you through what you need to know about progesterone.
This information needs to be given to NHS gp's specially those that are Not ready to even speak with patients about menopause or anything related to it 🤦🏼♀️. THANK YOU Dr Newson!!!!
PROGESTERONE INTOLERANCE causes some of us these same horrific symptoms. Puts us in a VERY dark place. Please make a video to help us that cant tolerate any progesterone. I can’t even tolerate it as compounded progesterone cream for the skin 😢. HELP! We need our estradiol!!!!
Totally agree, and I feel like this is glossed over here - oh, you'll get over it - when it's so debilitating, depression, despair, brain fog, these are not trivial side effects!
Thank you so much, I decided to try the progesterone cream yesterday because I had a total hysterectomy last year, no uterus, no ovaries, appendix had to be removed also because the endometriosis had spread. I started the estradiol patch last November because I could not tolerate how I was feeling. I’m still feeling some fatigue and brain fog. I asked my gynecologist last month was there anything else I can she literally said no and it’s old age. I’m 51, not old at all. Left a message yesterday at the doctors office with still no return call. It’s really saddening that doctors tell you that there’s nothing else you can do and have to go on UA-cam to find help. Thank you sooooooo much for this information, I am forever grateful for you and other doctors for talking about this on UA-cam. Greatly appreciate you ❤👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Thank you, Dr. Newson! I LOVE progesterone. I've had PPMD since I was 44, and I'm 50 now. A year ago, I started 100mg micronized progesterone, and it helped a great deal. Two weeks ago, I started using the capsules vaginally. My period is due tomorrow, and I have zero symptoms of PPMD! 🎉
This is amazing!! ❤ So happy for you, as a fellow pmdd woman ☺️ Are you taking the progesterone all through the month or just in the second half of your cycle?
Very excellent presentation. I am a physician in the USA and prescribe hormones frequently for women perimenopause and post menopause and amazed that many doctors including gynecologists don’t do this. For the post menopausal woman hormone replacement is critically important.
I was given vaginal estrogen about 3 years ago at age 56 but no other hormones. Had an endometrial ablation surgery 10 years ago and was told I didn’t need progesterone. I feel great with just the estrogen and I sleep great. I don’t have any menopause symptoms now. They were terrible when I was 49 but unfortunately my doctor didn’t provide me with any HRT info 10 years ago. I’m just learning now thanks to you and many other content creators on UA-cam
My GP Dr Miles has returned after taking a year off, she’s upped my progesterone to 200mg and I’m sleeping better, however I’m very conscious that I’m quite “jumpy,” my daughter suddenly appeared in my bedroom and I was listening music on my headphones, I nearly had a heart attack and gave her one! Driving is a bit of a nightmare when cars suddenly appear at speed round a bend and it make me jump - not great when it’s a large part of my job and I’m meant to be calm for my patients (I mask a lot). So either I suck it up and continue getting great sleep, try another and have to go through more “settling in” process. May be this is as good as it will get.
This is brilliant info - thanks so much! I came off HRT due to feeling so depressed with the Utrogestan. But, a few months later I went back to it as I wasn’t sleeping at all, and I using it vaginally is actually better 🎉
@@adrifheery Titanium Dioxide is a known gut irritant. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3442211/ Seems bonkers that the manufacturers have not done their research when so many women with menopause symptoms have sensitive digestive systems!
You are incredible Dr Newson thank you so much for the great insight. So helpful. I’m 51yo and in menopause now and starting to see the effects. Thank you again
Dr. Newson, can you please address Progesterone Intolerance and alternatives to oral progesterone 100 mg nightly? It makes me so tired and sleepy the entire next day. Thank you! I greatly enjoy your UA-cam sessions.
@marthabautista6795 This comment. I started last night with my MD’s suggestion of 300 mg Progesterone and I am an absolute spaced out zombie today with depressed thinking.
@ leanne8356 Hi Leanne, I have progesterone in trioche (losage) form.. I chopped it up and experimented with a really low dose. Not as tired but the mental side effects were still there. So.. I will try vaginal next. Thank you 🙏
Progesterone has saved my life, I now know I've obviously been lacking it my whole adult life or at least been estrogen dominant. As soon as it was added now im peri i couldn't believe the difference within days on my mental health! Im now even starting to believe my M.E diagnoses could of been the further decline in progesterone from around the age of 37 for me. Even now the two weeks i cant have it (doctor will only give it two weeks of the month) i feel terrible, like flu, like M.E! I actually look forward to the two weeks i get to have it again. Wish the gp would listen and not always follow the 'one size fits all' 😢
I hate progesterone, even my own! its side effects are all the B's - Bitchy, Bloated, Blue, Bunged up, Back ache, Bingeing and Blood pressure lowering. I do much better on synthetic progestins which don't hurt my blood pressure.
I have a lot to say to this 😉 I’m in ( peri) menopause, my body has 1-2 days of light spotting every 3-4 weeks, but I actually cycle weekly! 2-3 times I may have ‘ dry period’ without any blood, just feeling very depressed. I wear an estrogen patch to smooth the highs and lows ( still happens 😫) and use progesterone drops through the skin many times a day only for 3-4 days a week. My body absolutely won’t tolerate higher doses, so I have to mimic the way body releases progesterone naturally l, throughout the day. If I use more than two Drops (5mg) I get crazy headache, if I take a nighttime pill my liver hurts. So, I believe this system works for me for the time being. My provider wants me to take only 50 mg day, it seems unusual from what I hear on UA-cam but given my sensitivity it’s the best I can do. Honestly, I would love to wear a patch but so far only synthetic patches are available…why ? 🧐 FYI as far as I know Urogestan is NOT a natural progesterone, but a drug that mimics its action .
Re. Why patches only contain synthetic progesterone (combined with estrogen) - dose of natural progesterone that are required to protect the womb lining are way too high for a patch. Utrogestan comes in 100mg which is the required minimum dose per day for women who take it continuously. In comparison, a patch releases between 25 and 100 micrograms of estradiol (that's a 1000-4000 smaller dose), which is why patch works well for estradiol. Synthetic progestogens are more potent than natural progesterone so much smaller doses are needed, which makes it possible to use them in the patches.
I used Serenity cream for PMS and it really helped. I'm post menopausal now and taking oral utrogestan 300mg nightly. My body loves it 💛 I heard somewhere (but have forgotten where, sorry) that there might be a link with cortisol for women who get anxiety from taking progestogens. This was fab information, I'm always learning. Thank you so much Dr Newson 💛xx
Progesterone is exhausting me! Estrogen great, progesterone not so great! I just had the coil fitted, so the progesterone component of my hrt is localised rather than systemic...My GP is amazing and is trying to help with this awful fatigue I'm experiencing which quite literally renders me useless more frequently than I'd like....However, at age 55 I'm now dealing with constant, annoying bleeding...I'm told things will settle, I'm a patient person but bleeding like this at age 55 is not what I was counting on for sure...we are 14months into the hrt journey, and just three weeks since my shift from cyclical Utrogestan to the coil...Anyone who knows me knows I'm a calm, patient individual but this is testing me 😞
Understand what you’re going through, the other evening I took 50 Mg capsule of progesterone. I also take HRT cream everyday (which seems to giving me much needed relief of UTIs. The progesterone helped me sleep much better……I was so glad…..since I work 8 hours a day I was exhausted most of the day after taking progesterone in the evening. Thinking I’ll only take it on weekends now.
@@butterfly4875 please research oestrogen dominance. I was on HRT 18 months of a total nightmare, changes and types. I’m off it a year, and I couldn’t go through that hell again. I do believe it’s oestrogen causing the bleeding, progesterone is supposed to stop it. I think a healthy body can handle HRT but if your liver/ kidneys/adrenals are under pressure I think it’s dangerous to add HRT. I’m saying that a healthy body isn’t supposed to really experience any symptoms of menopause at all. 😞
Hi Louise, when you say Estradiol & progesterone TOGETHER, what do you mean? Used at the same time as some do in USA (use E2 daytime & progesterone at night)? Or cyclically two weeks of Estradiol, one week progesterone and one week break? Thank you
No break when you're in menopause, because it would mimic the cycle and you don't want that. I apply oestradiol after the shower in the evening and progesterone before sleep. You don't have to combine them precisely.
What about if you have PMDD? I'm reading that some people are progesterone intolerant and an increase in this hormone actually worsens symptoms for them.
Hello I take estradiol 1 mg and progesterone 100 mg but I still have insomnia and anxiety. I took a test and my estradiol is very high and progesterone is low. Is there any otc remedies to help with hormones instead of hrt?
I'm estrogen dominant with lipedema & pmdd. I've taking Combi patches and it sent me crazy so I came off them but I've used ustagestan on its own and felt ok. I think I need more as you say but unfortunately it's hard to convince the NHS of this
@@lisam2703 do you think the lipedema started with HRT, im not sure if mine did or because my liver/ kidneys aren’t functioning properly. I suffered with low mood before HRT, but now so many problems. I’m off it a year, and would just battle on that go through that again. 4 doses and types and always being told it will settle but never checking bloods until too late.
If I’d have had been given progesterone 10+ yrs ago I wouldn’t have ended up with womb cancer it would have protected my womb. I have issues with my thyroid too for yrs. 😢😢😢
Hi Louise, when you say Estradiol & progesterone TOGETHER, what do you mean? Used at the same time as some do in USA (use E2 daytime & progesterone at night)? Or cyclically two weeks of Estradiol, one week progesterone and one week break??? In Austria this hormone is systematically given to head injury patients (I guess a lots of ski accidents) to protect the brain
It’s sad that progesterone cream is just now being looked at. I was using it for a long time before actual menopause and it worked so well for anxiety, sleep and keeping periods regular. It’s been sold since the 70s in the US. Dr. Peat and Dr. Lee wrote about it a lot. That’s how I learned about it. Now in menopause it’s much harder to manage as I can’t handle the p pills at all. They cause extreme stress no matter what dose I use. I think I just don’t metabolize them right. My estradiol is already over 100pg/ml I will try and see if I can find a vaginal product. Unfortunately in the states a lot of pharmacies use really cheap ingredients that are known allergens, such as peanut oil for the pills or corn and soy for the pessaries. It’s hard to find a pharmacy that uses high quality ingredients. Also, I would love a tele session with Dr. Newson! Please make it possible!
it's when you've not had a period for a year then ur officially at menopause. Until then your classed as peri. I got told that by a Newson doctor as I had my first appt yesterday!
Thanks for this video. I am surprised that, as you said in this video, you learnt so little about Endocrinology in medical school. As a Biomedical Scientist we studied Endocrinology in depth. What you haven’t pointed out is that the risk of breast cancer related to HRT after menopause is almost wholly linked to progesterone/progestin. This has been shown repeatedly in studies. Women who use oestradiol alone (due to hysterectomy) do not have an increased risk of breast cancer; but women who use concomitant progestagen have a 10-20% higher risk of breast cancer.
Would you mind sharing which studies showed this increase in breast cancer when micronized (body identical) progesterone was used? I’m aware of studies that used the progestin MPA, the main study being the WHI.
@@jessicahitchens6926 thanks for the reply, yes I believe so. I found that out the hard way. I’m so fed up with women being sold complete lies. I don’t understand how so many celebrities and doctors are promoting HRT and apparently thriving. 🤯
I tried for 4 months using it virginally, couldn’t sleep and bled heavily every 2 wks which were painful. No way was I putting up with that crap so back to oral and at least I can sleep.
I would be interested to hear Dr Louise's thoughts on this also. What Dr Felice says does make sense and we do not want to down regulate our estrogen and testosterone receptors... ua-cam.com/users/shortsCNO8bHiKeMc?si=a7v7r74oeXvOd6f2
I taking lorazepam and estradiol patch 0.25mg. But the estradiol makes my leg muscle ache which I never had before. Wondering if I should go off estradiol.
I had my uterus, both ovaries, cervix & tubes all removed at 43 yrs old. I do fairly well on estradiol patch alone (better then not on estradiol) BUT no dr I’ve seen will try progesterone because they all say it’s safer to be in estrogen alone. On estradiol patches though I have a lot of fluid retention & weight gain. I also have terrible lower back & hip pain. Which I’ve read that adding progesterone could help all of that. I’ve also read that progesterone rebuilds bone loss where estrogen slows bone loss. I’m so confused. I know the estradiol alone is causing the fluid retention/weight because when I go down in dose or stop that all goes away but then I get terrible night sweats, body aches, UTI’s, dry everywhere. So it literally feels like a lose / lose situation now.
If all fails you can buy over the counter bioidentical progesterone cream online. You can also find progesterone oil that you can take orally. You definitely need to take progesterone to balance the estrogen.
Thank you so much for this excellent information. I am 51 on HRT (estrogen, progesterone and testosterone) and I take the progesterone capsule sublingually before sleep. Same effect like vaginal but no mess. Can you relate to this method?
So useful. What about time released progesterone , also are there any microionised formulations that don’t necessarily have peanut oil as the suspension ?
Every single image online/tutorial showing progesterone as being low during ovulation, not going up. I don't understand why is there so much confusion about this? I'd like to know, what is it? High or low midcycle? Because this impacts me greatly.
@@deel2435 I’d like to know why everyone is saying it’s oestrogen that’s so important when you can see that it’s on a high and low, mostly high because progesterone has left the chat. Therefore every women is really dominant in oestrogen but being prescribed more on top, with only 20mg synthetic testosterone coil to keep it in check. That makes absolutely no sense to me. I don’t think HRT is doing as good as we are led to believe. My support group nearly every lady is on the wrong dose. No one every writes I’m doing really well 🤯
@@alysonhamill7406 Never heard of a testosterone coil before. Can you sight research evidence of women in menopause being estrogen dominant? It's why most women are given progesterone in HRT. Where are you getting your information from? Wondering if you're an engagement bot or troll because this comment doesn't make sense. Sorry to read you're struggling, your friends are too. Menopause is very hard for most of us.
Changing from oral to rectal helps with depression. Orally a lot of the progesterone metabolizes to allopregnanolone which is a central depressant. The rectal route doesn't metabolize to allopregnanolone . You can read more here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmacokinetics_of_progesterone Best to you.
That’s interesting, I wonder if it will help me, as every 6 months I start feeling down, then really depressed and very anxious on oral progesterone, my gp wants to put me on synthetic progesterone but I might try it rectally this before trying the synthetic version. It’s a bit crap being a woman at this stage of our lives!
My doctor told me he won't prescribe me HRT until I have a smear test and a mammogram, even though I know I'm going through the menopause, is this correct? Because I refused both and he said maybe I would be better seeing a female doctor 😢
Thing is, it takes a lot for me to see a doctor, I have anxiety and depression, and the thought of having a two procedures just freaks me out and that's why I refused, it looks like a may have to suffer and go cold turkey with my symptoms, because I'm not going to get the help I need
You may want to consider going with a tele-medicine type of service for treatment. This allows you to meet the provider (could be a doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner) over a video or telephone visit. You would need to go to a lab for blood work to measure your hormone levels every few months until the optimal levels are achieved.
In my country, we can only be prescribed HRT if we get a DEXA, a full blood panel, a mammograph+ultrasound combo. And even after that, the doctor may say no. And all these examinationss have to be annually taken for the HRT to be continually prescribed.
agree - Dr. Mary Claire Haver and Dr. Heather Hirsch are NOT fans of the creams as the molecule of Progesterone is too large and does not absorb well. They also feel that it will not protect your uterus due to the inconsistent absorption vs. bioidentical FDA approved Progesterone.
Thank you! I’m péri ménopausal and am on a combo contraception pill + oral progesterone. It’s really helped! (And when my gyn told me she wouldn’t prescribed progesterone anymore, I fired her and found someone else who does)
Why do i feel like my daily 200mg progesterone is making me feel flat everyday? (Obviously need the progesterone to balance my estrodial patch) Only other option is mirena coil and im not happy that its a synthetic progestin
i hate being on HRt because it makes hormones fluctuate causing constipation. i am forced to take it though because if i don’t Vaginal Dryness is the alternative 😢 i can tolerate all of the symptoms except this one to which there is no cure as far as i know 😭
@@chicken9369 Yes tried it. i feel that all topical solutions just calm down the area but without Real oestrogen the area is burning from the inside tissues.
@@sue3519The vaginal cream caused burning for me. I switched to the tiny vaginal tablet, Yuvafem (generic Vagifem). No more burning. It is estradiol, the body identical form of estrogen.
Drs will prescribe it but it's not the same. It's synthetic, and synthetic hormones have side effects and can make your hormonal balance worse. Bio identical progesterone is superior.
Question: I’m on estradiol ( vaginaly ) and progesterone nightly. Should I be taking Progesterone EVERY night .? Or should I be taking progesterone 14 days off and 14 days on ..?
I am told to use it 14 days only. It depends on the dose you received, and if you have monthly periods or not. If you use it every day, the dosage is lover and you will probably not have any monthly bleeding. If you use it 12-14 days in the second half of the month, the dose will be higher, and you will still have some bleeding if you are in perimenopause
@@agnesjuhasz7715 thank you for your response., I had a full hysterectomy 10 years ago, So I don’t have monthly periods. Is there any benefit/ harm to taking it nightly or should I be doing 14 on 14 off . I love the sleep benefits and I’ve read it’s a diuretic, I could supplement with melatonin to sleep if cycling the 14 days on 14 days off is beneficial to my health. Thank you again for answering my question. I really appreciate any advice you have to offer.
I am seeing a physician in US who is prescribing HT but so wish I could see you or another physician in your clinic to get this customized treatment! Thank you for all you do for women everywhere! ❤
I want to follow my body’s natural hormonal production/circadian rhythm, so what would be the ideal time to take estradiol and progesterone. I am new to taking HRT. I am currently taking estradiol tablet and progesterone capsule once a day but would like to know the most natural optimal time of day to take it and if I should take it together or separate…
Progesterone PATHWAYS CHART!! It floated by, too small and too unstable to read. Where can we find a still, larger version?? On your site? Thank you for all your wonderful work and charming presentations which I have shared with almost all the women I know via a patched-together list of enlightening videos on GSM---"Gayle's List" to almost every woman I know.
HI! I am 49, still having periods, but I am experiencing low to no libido, brainfog, dry eyes, and I am very thin, prone to osteopenia. I have just been finally prescribed cyclic HRT (I really had to fight for it with my doctor!) , but am a little bit confused about it: I got Divigel+ Provera. Isn't Provera a little controversial? Does anyone have any experience? Thinking about pushing for Utrogestan or Mirena coil instead.... any thoughts?
I taje uteagestran vaginally as I've always had pns and I'm progesterone intolerance. I do suffer from sleep anxiety and anxiety, I do use oestragel as well , my testosterone test came back normal ,do I still need to take testosterone as hrt,as I suffer from ostriapinia and fibromayligia, endermwtriosis❤
Dr Newsom, I highly recommend listening to Georgi Dinkov (on youtube) and what he says about progesterone and its importance for both women and men. Very interesting. Thnik hes wrong about estrogen through (being a man!)
I've had early awakenings for >10 years. Utrogestan capsules make me sleep better, but my gynecologist won't let me take it for more then 2 weeks at the time because I'm in perimenopause. I feel desperate because my sleep is bad all month and affects my life quality big time and I would like to take it every night. Is that a possibility? Could I take 200 micrograms if neccesary? Does the capsules also have a short half life? I still wake up early some nights in spite of progesterone. Could I take another pill in the middle of the night if I do 100 + 100 micrograms? Thank you for an otherwise very informative video. 🥰😻
There is no reason why you cannot be on continuous HRT even if you are in PeriMenopause. I told my doctor I wanted to be on continuous instead of cycling. They let me switch.
Master class in hormones! 🤩 The information here is for every female from puberty through to post menopause. All doctors should watch this!
This information needs to be given to NHS gp's specially those that are Not ready to even speak with patients about menopause or anything related to it 🤦🏼♀️. THANK YOU Dr Newson!!!!
PROGESTERONE INTOLERANCE causes some of us these same horrific symptoms. Puts us in a VERY dark place. Please make a video to help us that cant tolerate any progesterone. I can’t even tolerate it as compounded progesterone cream for the skin 😢. HELP! We need our estradiol!!!!
Totally agree, and I feel like this is glossed over here - oh, you'll get over it - when it's so debilitating, depression, despair, brain fog, these are not trivial side effects!
@@GodsChild-128 did you try 100mg vaginally 6 days a month? Incant tolerate it as well.
It converts into other hormones. Its very unpredictable. So it could be converting in cortisol. Which you don't need.
@@user-nz8jx6bx1g try mega dosing progesterone. I can tolerate it at high levels, not low. I am using around 1,000 mg per day right now.
@@jessicahitchens6926that's why I'm feeling an anxiety never felt before 😢
Thank you so much, I decided to try the progesterone cream yesterday because I had a total hysterectomy last year, no uterus, no ovaries, appendix had to be removed also because the endometriosis had spread. I started the estradiol patch last November because I could not tolerate how I was feeling. I’m still feeling some fatigue and brain fog. I asked my gynecologist last month was there anything else I can she literally said no and it’s old age. I’m 51, not old at all. Left a message yesterday at the doctors office with still no return call. It’s really saddening that doctors tell you that there’s nothing else you can do and have to go on UA-cam to find help.
Thank you sooooooo much for this information, I am forever grateful for you and other doctors for talking about this on UA-cam.
Greatly appreciate you ❤👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
Thank you, Dr. Newson!
I LOVE progesterone. I've had PPMD since I was 44, and I'm 50 now. A year ago, I started 100mg micronized progesterone, and it helped a great deal.
Two weeks ago, I started using the capsules vaginally. My period is due tomorrow, and I have zero symptoms of PPMD! 🎉
This is amazing!! ❤ So happy for you, as a fellow pmdd woman ☺️ Are you taking the progesterone all through the month or just in the second half of your cycle?
Same question here! Also, can the same oral capsule be use vaginally?
@@ednaarroyo5088wondering the same!
@@ednaarroyo5088yes apparently
@@ednaarroyo5088yes
The best progesterone talk I have heard. Thank you so much, Dr. Newson.
This was so incredibly helpful! I want to send this to my doctor who is woefully miss informed about progesterone but I don’t want to seem rude. 🤪
Very excellent presentation. I am a physician in the USA and prescribe hormones frequently for women perimenopause and post menopause and amazed that many doctors including gynecologists don’t do this. For the post menopausal woman hormone replacement is critically important.
I was given vaginal estrogen about 3 years ago at age 56 but no other hormones. Had an endometrial ablation surgery 10 years ago and was told I didn’t need progesterone. I feel great with just the estrogen and I sleep great. I don’t have any menopause symptoms now. They were terrible when I was 49 but unfortunately my doctor didn’t provide me with any HRT info 10 years ago. I’m just learning now thanks to you and many other content creators on UA-cam
Bloody amazing thank you. I was told I couldn’t take progesterone because I have a merina coil in place. Will now go back to my GP and ask again!
Thank you as always for providing excellent free education, you are doing a great service to women❤
My GP Dr Miles has returned after taking a year off, she’s upped my progesterone to 200mg and I’m sleeping better, however I’m very conscious that I’m quite “jumpy,” my daughter suddenly appeared in my bedroom and I was listening music on my headphones, I nearly had a heart attack and gave her one! Driving is a bit of a nightmare when cars suddenly appear at speed round a bend and it make me jump - not great when it’s a large part of my job and I’m meant to be calm for my patients (I mask a lot). So either I suck it up and continue getting great sleep, try another and have to go through more “settling in” process. May be this is as good as it will get.
This is brilliant info - thanks so much! I came off HRT due to feeling so depressed with the Utrogestan. But, a few months later I went back to it as I wasn’t sleeping at all, and I using it vaginally is actually better 🎉
Some people have bad reaction taking it orally from the peanut oil in Ultrogestan.
Why would they use a know allergen in a carrier oil . Peanut ?
@@adrifheeryit’s sunflower oil.
the ingredients have put me off. Titanium dioxide, with sunflower oil. 😢
@@adrifheery Titanium Dioxide is a known gut irritant. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3442211/ Seems bonkers that the manufacturers have not done their research when so many women with menopause symptoms have sensitive digestive systems!
Incredibly informational. Thank you, Dr. Newson!
Fantastic, evidence-based information that all women need to know and understand. Thank you so very much Dr. Newson!!
Thank you! I’m péri ménopausal and am on a combo contraception pill + oral progesterone. It’s really helped!
It is helpful. Thank you for this information. I greatly appreciate the time that you take to share your knowledge. Xx
Thankyou, i am learning so much.
You are incredible Dr Newson thank you so much for the great insight. So helpful. I’m 51yo and in menopause now and starting to see the effects. Thank you again
Dr. Newson, can you please address Progesterone Intolerance and alternatives to oral progesterone 100 mg nightly? It makes me so tired and sleepy the entire next day. Thank you! I greatly enjoy your UA-cam sessions.
@marthabautista6795
This comment. I started last night with my MD’s suggestion of 300 mg Progesterone and I am an absolute spaced out zombie today with depressed thinking.
300mg is absolutely too much. @@wildKrafter
Have you tried vaginally or taking earlier in evening.
@ leanne8356
Hi Leanne, I have progesterone in trioche (losage) form.. I chopped it up and experimented with a really low dose. Not as tired but the mental side effects were still there. So.. I will try vaginal next.
Thank you 🙏
Decrease the dosage.
Progesterone has saved my life, I now know I've obviously been lacking it my whole adult life or at least been estrogen dominant. As soon as it was added now im peri i couldn't believe the difference within days on my mental health! Im now even starting to believe my M.E diagnoses could of been the further decline in progesterone from around the age of 37 for me. Even now the two weeks i cant have it (doctor will only give it two weeks of the month) i feel terrible, like flu, like M.E! I actually look forward to the two weeks i get to have it again. Wish the gp would listen and not always follow the 'one size fits all' 😢
I agree with you. Progesterone has also helped me immensely.
@@adrifheery such a shame they won't allow me it daily 😕
@@kellyofthehead can you not asked to be referred to a menopause specialist?
I hate progesterone, even my own! its side effects are all the B's - Bitchy, Bloated, Blue, Bunged up, Back ache, Bingeing and Blood pressure lowering. I do much better on synthetic progestins which don't hurt my blood pressure.
Thank you Dr Newson!
Can you give all options when your pogeaterone intorlaronce pls
I have a lot to say to this 😉
I’m in ( peri) menopause, my body has 1-2 days of light spotting every 3-4 weeks, but I actually cycle weekly! 2-3 times I may have ‘ dry period’ without any blood, just feeling very depressed. I wear an estrogen patch to smooth the highs and lows ( still happens 😫) and use progesterone drops through the skin many times a day only for 3-4 days a week. My body absolutely won’t tolerate higher doses, so I have to mimic the way body releases progesterone naturally l, throughout the day. If I use more than two
Drops (5mg) I get crazy headache, if I take a nighttime pill my liver hurts. So, I believe this system works for me for the time being. My provider wants me to take only 50 mg day, it seems unusual from what I hear on UA-cam but given my sensitivity it’s the best I can do. Honestly, I would love to wear a patch but so far only synthetic patches are available…why ? 🧐
FYI as far as I know Urogestan is NOT a natural progesterone, but a drug that mimics its action .
Utrogestan is micronized progesterone, it is identical to natural progesterone, I.e. body identical progesterone. It's not a mimic.
Re. Why patches only contain synthetic progesterone (combined with estrogen) - dose of natural progesterone that are required to protect the womb lining are way too high for a patch. Utrogestan comes in 100mg which is the required minimum dose per day for women who take it continuously. In comparison, a patch releases between 25 and 100 micrograms of estradiol (that's a 1000-4000 smaller dose), which is why patch works well for estradiol. Synthetic progestogens are more potent than natural progesterone so much smaller doses are needed, which makes it possible to use them in the patches.
If my liver wasn’t functioning properly or sore i wouldn’t take any HRT. You need to be able to metabolise it or it could make things worse.
Very helpful video!!!! Thank you very much!!!!
Thank you ! This information was incredibly helpful!
Fantastic information, thank you so much 😊
Very helpful video. I didn't know that progesterone is also linked to mitochondria. ❤
I used Serenity cream for PMS and it really helped. I'm post menopausal now and taking oral utrogestan 300mg nightly. My body loves it 💛
I heard somewhere (but have forgotten where, sorry) that there might be a link with cortisol for women who get anxiety from taking progestogens.
This was fab information, I'm always learning. Thank you so much Dr Newson 💛xx
The progesterone converts to cortisol..its unpredictable.
Progesterone is exhausting me! Estrogen great, progesterone not so great! I just had the coil fitted, so the progesterone component of my hrt is localised rather than systemic...My GP is amazing and is trying to help with this awful fatigue I'm experiencing which quite literally renders me useless more frequently than I'd like....However, at age 55 I'm now dealing with constant, annoying bleeding...I'm told things will settle, I'm a patient person but bleeding like this at age 55 is not what I was counting on for sure...we are 14months into the hrt journey, and just three weeks since my shift from cyclical Utrogestan to the coil...Anyone who knows me knows I'm a calm, patient individual but this is testing me 😞
Understand what you’re going through, the other evening I took 50 Mg capsule of progesterone. I also take HRT cream everyday (which seems to giving me much needed relief of UTIs. The progesterone helped me sleep much better……I was so glad…..since I work 8 hours a day I was exhausted most of the day after taking progesterone in the evening. Thinking I’ll only take it on weekends now.
Progesterone is the devil
@@butterfly4875 please research oestrogen dominance. I was on HRT 18 months of a total nightmare, changes and types. I’m off it a year, and I couldn’t go through that hell again. I do believe it’s oestrogen causing the bleeding, progesterone is supposed to stop it. I think a healthy body can handle HRT but if your liver/ kidneys/adrenals are under pressure I think it’s dangerous to add HRT. I’m saying that a healthy body isn’t supposed to really experience any symptoms of menopause at all. 😞
Hi Louise, when you say Estradiol & progesterone TOGETHER, what do you mean? Used at the same time as some do in USA (use E2 daytime & progesterone at night)? Or cyclically two weeks of Estradiol, one week progesterone and one week break? Thank you
No break when you're in menopause, because it would mimic the cycle and you don't want that.
I apply oestradiol after the shower in the evening and progesterone before sleep. You don't have to combine them precisely.
So informative as always !
So helpful Louise thank you
Love your presentations!
Thank you so much this is a fantastic video 😊
What about if you have PMDD? I'm reading that some people are progesterone intolerant and an increase in this hormone actually worsens symptoms for them.
10% of women can't tolerate it. The only way to find out is try a low dose and see how you react.
Hello I take estradiol 1 mg and progesterone 100 mg but I still have insomnia and anxiety. I took a test and my estradiol is very high and progesterone is low. Is there any otc remedies to help with hormones instead of hrt?
I'm estrogen dominant with lipedema & pmdd. I've taking Combi patches and it sent me crazy so I came off them but I've used ustagestan on its own and felt ok. I think I need more as you say but unfortunately it's hard to convince the NHS of this
I’m the same
@@lisam2703 do you think the lipedema started with HRT, im not sure if mine did or because my liver/ kidneys aren’t functioning properly. I suffered with low mood before HRT, but now so many problems. I’m off it a year, and would just battle on that go through that again. 4 doses and types and always being told it will settle but never checking bloods until too late.
If I’d have had been given progesterone 10+ yrs ago I wouldn’t have ended up with womb cancer it would have protected my womb.
I have issues with my thyroid too for yrs. 😢😢😢
Stay strong!
Thank you
Hi Louise, when you say Estradiol & progesterone TOGETHER, what do you mean? Used at the same time as some do in USA (use E2 daytime & progesterone at night)? Or cyclically two weeks of Estradiol, one week progesterone and one week break???
In Austria this hormone is systematically given to head injury patients (I guess a lots of ski accidents) to protect the brain
It’s sad that progesterone cream is just now being looked at. I was using it for a long time before actual menopause and it worked so well for anxiety, sleep and keeping periods regular. It’s been sold since the 70s in the US. Dr. Peat and Dr. Lee wrote about it a lot. That’s how I learned about it.
Now in menopause it’s much harder to manage as I can’t handle the p pills at all. They cause extreme stress no matter what dose I use. I think I just don’t metabolize them right. My estradiol is already over 100pg/ml I will try and see if I can find a vaginal product. Unfortunately in the states a lot of pharmacies use really cheap ingredients that are known allergens, such as peanut oil for the pills or corn and soy for the pessaries. It’s hard to find a pharmacy that uses high quality ingredients.
Also, I would love a tele session with Dr. Newson! Please make it possible!
Can I ask if Gepretix is really the same as Utrogestan? My doctor is trying to substitute it for my normal prescription but I’m happy on Utrogestan.
Yea it is x
How long can I take progesterone pills for?!
I am on HRT. Can I have a Mirena coil and take progesterone orally? My main issue is my heart beating fast.
apparently yes
Fantastic information! How does one know they go from perimenopausal to menopausal while on HRT which keeps the hormones higher?
it's when you've not had a period for a year then ur officially at menopause. Until then your classed as peri. I got told that by a Newson doctor as I had my first appt yesterday!
Thanks for this video. I am surprised that, as you said in this video, you learnt so little about Endocrinology in medical school. As a Biomedical Scientist we studied Endocrinology in depth.
What you haven’t pointed out is that the risk of breast cancer related to HRT after menopause is almost wholly linked to progesterone/progestin. This has been shown repeatedly in studies. Women who use oestradiol alone (due to hysterectomy) do not have an increased risk of breast cancer; but women who use concomitant progestagen have a 10-20% higher risk of breast cancer.
Would you mind sharing which studies showed this increase in breast cancer when micronized (body identical) progesterone was used? I’m aware of studies that used the progestin MPA, the main study being the WHI.
I think most studies are of progestins, MPA and NE
Not according to Dr. Mary Claire Haver
Bioidentical progesterone is not supposed to have an increased risk of breast cancer. It was the synthetic versions that were the problem.
Definitely Progestin. Women shouldn't touch it at all. Then Progesterone converts into other hormones you don't actually know what you are getting.
Could tolerance be because of what’s it’s suspended in, sunflower oil, litchens, and titanium dioxide?
Its peanut oil as well. So GMO a 100%.. Progesterone converts to other hormones as well. It's not stable.
@@jessicahitchens6926 thanks for the reply, yes I believe so. I found that out the hard way. I’m so fed up with women being sold complete lies. I don’t understand how so many celebrities and doctors are promoting HRT and apparently thriving. 🤯
@Dr Louise what are your thoughts about the use about cycling progesterone when postmenopausal so we bleed monthly as @Dr Felice Gersh suggets?
OMG why would you want a period again? That may be the only good thing about being post menopausal!
Yes that is the way I use it .I have tried different ways but it good for me .
@@Katepweperiods don't bother me.
I tried for 4 months using it virginally, couldn’t sleep and bled heavily every 2 wks which were painful. No way was I putting up with that crap so back to oral and at least I can sleep.
I would be interested to hear Dr Louise's thoughts on this also. What Dr Felice says does make sense and we do not want to down regulate our estrogen and testosterone receptors...
ua-cam.com/users/shortsCNO8bHiKeMc?si=a7v7r74oeXvOd6f2
I can’t take progesterone. I go insane. What should I do?
Anyone on benzodiazepines and HRT work without problems?
I taking lorazepam and estradiol patch 0.25mg.
But the estradiol makes my leg muscle ache which I never had before. Wondering if I should go off estradiol.
@@sherylmorgan4802 so taking estradiol without progestin/progesterone is ok?
@@sherylmorgan4802 you will probably need more estrogen. 0.05mg instead 0.025mg. That’s not enough of what I’ve heard.
Does NHS prescribe bioidentical hormones?
I’ve noticed that the prometrium smells horrible! What is it made of?
I wouldn't take it. Peanut oil is in it. So GMO. Pesticides galore
I had my uterus, both ovaries, cervix & tubes all removed at 43 yrs old. I do fairly well on estradiol patch alone (better then not on estradiol) BUT no dr I’ve seen will try progesterone because they all say it’s safer to be in estrogen alone. On estradiol patches though I have a lot of fluid retention & weight gain. I also have terrible lower back & hip pain. Which I’ve read that adding progesterone could help all of that. I’ve also read that progesterone rebuilds bone loss where estrogen slows bone loss. I’m so confused. I know the estradiol alone is causing the fluid retention/weight because when I go down in dose or stop that all goes away but then I get terrible night sweats, body aches, UTI’s, dry everywhere. So it literally feels like a lose / lose situation now.
No reason not to add progesterone…..orally at night, and perhaps vaginal estrogen.
If all fails you can buy over the counter bioidentical progesterone cream online. You can also find progesterone oil that you can take orally. You definitely need to take progesterone to balance the estrogen.
How long might it take to see improvements after starting progesterone?
Thank you so much for this excellent information. I am 51 on HRT (estrogen, progesterone and testosterone) and I take the progesterone capsule sublingually before sleep. Same effect like vaginal but no mess. Can you relate to this method?
So useful. What about time released progesterone , also are there any microionised formulations that don’t necessarily have peanut oil as the suspension ?
The one made in Belgium doesn't have peanut oil. It's called progebel.
Would Progesterone help post-concussion brains???
Where, on which of your platforms can I find these graphs?
Every single image online/tutorial showing progesterone as being low during ovulation, not going up. I don't understand why is there so much confusion about this? I'd like to know, what is it? High or low midcycle? Because this impacts me greatly.
@@deel2435 I’d like to know why everyone is saying it’s oestrogen that’s so important when you can see that it’s on a high and low, mostly high because progesterone has left the chat. Therefore every women is really dominant in oestrogen but being prescribed more on top, with only 20mg synthetic testosterone coil to keep it in check. That makes absolutely no sense to me. I don’t think HRT is doing as good as we are led to believe. My support group nearly every lady is on the wrong dose. No one every writes I’m doing really well 🤯
@@alysonhamill7406 Never heard of a testosterone coil before. Can you sight research evidence of women in menopause being estrogen dominant? It's why most women are given progesterone in HRT. Where are you getting your information from? Wondering if you're an engagement bot or troll because this comment doesn't make sense. Sorry to read you're struggling, your friends are too. Menopause is very hard for most of us.
Can you talk about depression and HRT … what helps
Changing from oral to rectal helps with depression. Orally a lot of the progesterone metabolizes to allopregnanolone which is a central depressant. The rectal route doesn't metabolize to allopregnanolone . You can read more here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharmacokinetics_of_progesterone
Best to you.
That’s interesting, I wonder if it will help me, as every 6 months I start feeling down, then really depressed and very anxious on oral progesterone, my gp wants to put me on synthetic progesterone but I might try it rectally this before trying the synthetic version. It’s a bit crap being a woman at this stage of our lives!
Have u tried increasing the oestregan to counter act the progesterone?
My doctor told me he won't prescribe me HRT until I have a smear test and a mammogram, even though I know I'm going through the menopause, is this correct? Because I refused both and he said maybe I would be better seeing a female doctor 😢
Probably a very good idea to have both but it shouldn't stop them starting you on HRT.
Thing is, it takes a lot for me to see a doctor, I have anxiety and depression, and the thought of having a two procedures just freaks me out and that's why I refused, it looks like a may have to suffer and go cold turkey with my symptoms, because I'm not going to get the help I need
You may want to consider going with a tele-medicine type of service for treatment. This allows you to meet the provider (could be a doctor, physician assistant or nurse practitioner) over a video or telephone visit. You would need to go to a lab for blood work to measure your hormone levels every few months until the optimal levels are achieved.
If your Dr won’t work with you, fire them. Get a different Dr.
In my country, we can only be prescribed HRT if we get a DEXA, a full blood panel, a mammograph+ultrasound combo. And even after that, the doctor may say no. And all these examinationss have to be annually taken for the HRT to be continually prescribed.
I thought progesterone creams did not absorb well? My dr said throw it out cause it’s useless.
Even a smidge on my skin knocks me down quickly
agree - Dr. Mary Claire Haver and Dr. Heather Hirsch are NOT fans of the creams as the molecule of Progesterone is too large and does not absorb well. They also feel that it will not protect your uterus due to the inconsistent absorption vs. bioidentical FDA approved Progesterone.
Your skin is porous so it is goin in. It depends on the dose it depends on its conversion inside. Convets to other hormones. Strange one..
Thank you! I’m péri ménopausal and am on a combo contraception pill + oral progesterone. It’s really helped! (And when my gyn told me she wouldn’t prescribed progesterone anymore, I fired her and found someone else who does)
Why do i feel like my daily 200mg progesterone is making me feel flat everyday?
(Obviously need the progesterone to balance my estrodial patch)
Only other option is mirena coil and im not happy that its a synthetic progestin
Maybe the dosage needs adjusting.
i hate being on HRt because it makes hormones fluctuate causing constipation. i am forced to take it though because if i don’t Vaginal Dryness is the alternative 😢 i can tolerate all of the symptoms except this one to which there is no cure as far as i know 😭
Have you tried vaginal estradiol?
@@chicken9369 Yes tried it. i feel that all topical solutions just calm down the area but without Real oestrogen the area is burning from the inside tissues.
@@sue3519The vaginal cream caused burning for me. I switched to the tiny vaginal tablet, Yuvafem (generic Vagifem). No more burning. It is estradiol, the body identical form of estrogen.
Have you tried Testosterone? This solves the issues you mention
@@ElaineDaniels-l2d Testosterone alone without Estrogen and Progesterone?🤔
Can you just take progesterone on its own post menopause if your estrogen levels is within range .
@@adrienneconroy4208 why would you want too? Just curious, progesterone can change your oestrogen, so I’d leave things alone if you’re feeling good.
This is something ibknow i need. Can someone please guide me if i can take only progesterone hrt?
yes you can.
Ylthe best progesterone advice Ibhave found. Thank you so much. Is it ok to take 100mg vaginally every night? I find I am intolerant to taking orally.
Can you take mini pill for progesterone ?
Drs will prescribe it but it's not the same. It's synthetic, and synthetic hormones have side effects and can make your hormonal balance worse. Bio identical progesterone is superior.
Question: I’m on estradiol ( vaginaly ) and progesterone nightly. Should I be taking Progesterone EVERY night .? Or should I be taking progesterone 14 days off and 14 days on ..?
I am told to use it 14 days only. It depends on the dose you received, and if you have monthly periods or not. If you use it every day, the dosage is lover and you will probably not have any monthly bleeding. If you use it 12-14 days in the second half of the month, the dose will be higher, and you will still have some bleeding if you are in perimenopause
@@agnesjuhasz7715 thank you for your response., I had a full hysterectomy 10 years ago,
So I don’t have monthly periods.
Is there any benefit/ harm to taking it nightly or should I be doing 14 on 14 off . I love the sleep benefits and I’ve read it’s a diuretic, I could supplement with melatonin to sleep if cycling the 14 days on 14 days off is beneficial to my health. Thank you again for answering my question. I really appreciate any advice you have to offer.
Hi I can’t take progesterone I tried loads what can I do pls?
Mirena coil inserted into the uterus
Unless you’ve had a hysterectomy you can’t take estradiol alone without progesterone.
God is amazing how he designed us, even body identical HRT doesn’t match up to original, end up causing more damages.
Don’t type things like this please- it’s scaremongering & stops women from seeking help.
Well obviously the original is the best. Common sense..
@@jessicahitchens6926 doesn’t sound like common sense- it sounds* like absolute nonsense!
So helpful Louise thank you 😊
Is there any way you can provide a PDF of the charts.. or show them so I could get a snapshot?
Thank you so very much for this informative video and thank you for putting forward this information in a way that is understandable by everyone 🙏🏻
I am seeing a physician in US who is prescribing HT but so wish I could see you or another physician in your clinic to get this customized treatment! Thank you for all you do for women everywhere! ❤
I think you can do video consultations with her
I want to follow my body’s natural hormonal production/circadian rhythm, so what would be the ideal time to take estradiol and progesterone. I am new to taking HRT. I am currently taking estradiol tablet and progesterone capsule once a day but would like to know the most natural optimal time of day to take it and if I should take it together or separate…
Progesterone PATHWAYS CHART!! It floated by, too small and too unstable to read. Where can we find a still, larger version?? On your site? Thank you for all your wonderful work and charming presentations which I have shared with almost all the women I know via a patched-together list of enlightening videos on GSM---"Gayle's List" to almost every woman I know.
HI! I am 49, still having periods, but I am experiencing low to no libido, brainfog, dry eyes, and I am very thin, prone to osteopenia. I have just been finally prescribed cyclic HRT (I really had to fight for it with my doctor!) , but am a little bit confused about it: I got Divigel+ Provera. Isn't Provera a little controversial? Does anyone have any experience? Thinking about pushing for Utrogestan or Mirena coil instead.... any thoughts?
I taje uteagestran vaginally as I've always had pns and I'm progesterone intolerance.
I do suffer from sleep anxiety and anxiety, I do use oestragel as well , my testosterone test came back normal ,do I still need to take testosterone as hrt,as I suffer from ostriapinia and fibromayligia, endermwtriosis❤
Dr Newsom, I highly recommend listening to Georgi Dinkov (on youtube) and what he says about progesterone and its importance for both women and men. Very interesting. Thnik hes wrong about estrogen through (being a man!)
@@ArcturusAndromeda I think he’s absolutely spot on about it.
Thank you 🙏🏽
🙏
I've had early awakenings for >10 years. Utrogestan capsules make me sleep better, but my gynecologist won't let me take it for more then 2 weeks at the time because I'm in perimenopause. I feel desperate because my sleep is bad all month and affects my life quality big time and I would like to take it every night. Is that a possibility? Could I take 200 micrograms if neccesary? Does the capsules also have a short half life? I still wake up early some nights in spite of progesterone. Could I take another pill in the middle of the night if I do 100 + 100 micrograms? Thank you for an otherwise very informative video. 🥰😻
There is no reason why you cannot be on continuous HRT even if you are in PeriMenopause.
I told my doctor I wanted to be on continuous instead of cycling. They let me switch.
I had to switch doctors in the past. Crazy that they guard these hormones when we suffer because they are not educated enough.